Hon. Attorney General vs Dematapaksha Hewage Randika Nuwansiri – CA NO: HCC 104/2017-2021

In the case between the Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo 12 (Complainant/Respondent) and Dematapaksha Hewage Randika Nuwansiri (Accused/Appellant), the court addressed issues concerning the reliability of eyewitness identification after a significant delay, the admissibility of identification procedures, the causation of death in light of the deceased’s preexisting medical conditions, and the fairness of the trial process. It was held that the evidence established the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt with respect to murder under Section 296 and attempted robbery under Section 381 of the Penal Code. The principle reaffirmed was that delayed identification, if satisfactorily explained and accompanied by credible witness testimony and fair procedures, can b